Mathieu Olivier

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Mathieu Olivier

| image =

| image_size = 230px

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|2|11}}

| birth_place = Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 209

| position = Right wing

| shoots = Right

| league = NHL

| team = Columbus Blue Jackets

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league = AHL

| former_teams = Nashville Predators

| ntl_team =

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 2018

| career_end =

}}

Mathieu Olivier (born February 11, 1997) is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Olivier is the first Mississippi-born player in NHL history, as well as the first player born in the Gulf Coast region to play for the Predators.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/best-nhl-player-from-each-us-state/|title=Best NHL Player From Each U.S. State |last=Boysen |first=Greg |date=May 21, 2020 |website=thehockeywriters.com |access-date=October 17, 2020}}

Early life

Olivier was born on February 11, 1997, in Biloxi, Mississippi{{cite web |title=Mathieu Olivier |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/213604/mathieu-olivier |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=March 19, 2022}} while his father Simon was playing in the ECHL.{{cite web |last1=Bratten |first1=Brooks |title=#PredsCamp Player Profile: Mathieu Olivier |url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/predscamp-player-profile-mathieu-olivier/c-320009326 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=January 6, 2021}} He lived in Mississippi for three months before moving to various cities and countries including Canada, Germany, Oklahoma City, and Houston while his father played hockey.{{cite web |last1=Bratten |first1=Brooks |title=Smashville Scope: November 26 |url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/smashville-scope-november-26/c-311821704 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=November 26, 2019}} He attended kindergarten in Germany and picked up the language before moving back to his family's native Quebec.{{cite news |last1=LeFrancois |first1=Guillaume |title=Mathieu Olivier: du Mississippi à la LNH |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/2019-12-02/mathieu-olivier-du-mississippi-a-la-lnh |access-date=March 19, 2022 |publisher=La Presse |date=December 2, 2019}}

Playing career

=Major Junior=

Growing up in Quebec, Olivier as a youth played with the Lévis Commandeurs in the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA) before he was selected by the Moncton Wildcats in the 2013 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Entry Draft.{{cite web |title=2013 Draft Recap |url=https://moncton-wildcats.com/2013-draft-recap |publisher=Moncton Wildcats |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=June 11, 2013}} His tenure with the Wildcats only lasted one and a half seasons, however, as he was traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes for a 3rd round pick in December 2014.{{cite web |title=Mathieu Olivier Traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes |url=https://moncton-wildcats.com/mathieu-olivier-traded-to-the-shawinigan-cataractes |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=December 19, 2014}} At the time of the trade, Olivier had accumulated 21 points through 86 games. Upon joining the Cataractes, Olivier player in the QMJHL's first Winter Classic and scored a goal in the 4–2 win over the Victoriaville Tigres.{{cite web |title=Les Cataractes l'emportent la toute première Classique hivernale de l'histoire de la LHJMQ! |url=https://cataractes.qc.ca/les-cataractes-lemportent-la-toute-premiere-classique-hivernale-de-lhistoire-de-la-lhjmq/ |publisher=Shawinigan Cataractes |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=January 23, 2015 |language=French |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216232226/https://cataractes.qc.ca/les-cataractes-lemportent-la-toute-premiere-classique-hivernale-de-lhistoire-de-la-lhjmq/ |url-status=dead }}

Prior to the start of the 2015–16 season, Olivier was named an assistant captain alongside Alex Pawelczyk, Zachary Taylor, Alexis D'Aoust, and Giovanni Fiore.{{cite web |title=Anthony Beauvillier nommé capitaine des Cataractes! |url=https://cataractes.qc.ca/anthony-beauvillier-nomme-capitaine-des-cataractes/ |publisher=Shawinigan Cataractes |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=August 5, 2015 |language=French |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216232230/https://cataractes.qc.ca/anthony-beauvillier-nomme-capitaine-des-cataractes/ |url-status=dead }} In this role, he helped lead the team to the President's Cup Finals before they were eliminated by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.{{cite web |title=Le Hockey, c'est toute ma vie! – Interview avec Mathieu Olivier |url=https://hockeyphoenix.ca/gallery/le-hockey-cest-toute-ma-vie-interview-avec-mathieu-olivier |publisher=Sherbrooke Phoenix |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=February 27, 2018}}

On the opening night of 2017–18 QMJHL training camps, Olivier was traded to the Sherbrooke Phoenix in exchange for two picks in the 2020 draft.{{cite news |title=Deux transactions chez les Cats: Mathieu Olivier quitte |url=https://www.lhebdojournal.com/sports/deux-transactions-chez-les-cats-mathieu-olivier-quitte/ |access-date=March 19, 2022 |publisher=L'Hebdo Journal |date=August 16, 2017 |language=French}} By February 2018, Olivier has tallied 42 points with the Phoenix while also serving as an alternate captain. As a result of his play over his five seasons in the QMJHL, Olivier signed his first professional contract with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) on February 19, 2018.{{cite web |title=Mathieu Olivier signe avec les Admirals de Milwaukee |url=https://hockeyphoenix.ca/article/mathieu-olivier-signe-avec-les-admirals-de-milwaukee |publisher=Sherbrooke Phoenix |access-date=March 19, 2022 |language=French |date=February 20, 2018}} Following the signing, he remained with the Phoenix and helped them reach the second round of the post-season by recording six points through 10 games. As a result of his play during the regular and post-season, Olivier received the teams' MVP and Fan Favourite Award.{{cite web |title=Trophées Eggsquis 2017-2018 : les lauréats |url=https://hockeyphoenix.ca/article/23640 |publisher=Sherbrooke Phoenix |access-date=March 19, 2022 |language=French |date=April 20, 2018}}

=Professional=

Upon concluding his major junior career, Olivier attended the Nashville Predators Development Camp and Prospects Showcase ahead of the 2018–19 season.{{cite web |last1=Bratten |first1=Brooks |title=Preds Rookies Come Back to Top Capitals as Prospect Showcase Begins |url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/preds-rookies-come-back-to-top-capitals-as-prospect-showcase-begins/c-300008806 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=September 8, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Fitzner |first1=Aaron |title=Preds Development Camp Concludes with Thrilling Future Stars Game |url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/preds-development-camp-concludes-with-thrilling-future-stars-game/c-299351866 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=June 29, 2018}} In his first professional season, Olivier tallied four goals and 12 points through 54 games while also leading the AHL with 9 fights. As such, he was re-signed by the Predators to a two-year, entry-level contract for the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.{{cite web |title=Predators Sign Mathieu Olivier to Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/predators-sign-mathieu-olivier-to-two-year-entry-level-contract/c-307148628 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 20, 2022 |date=May 1, 2019}}

Reassigned to continue his tenure with the Admirals to start the 2019–20 season, Olivier had 7 points in 17 games before earning his first recall to the Predators on November 18, 2019.{{cite web| url = https://twitter.com/mkeadmirals/status/1196470769917710340 | title = Preds have recalled Olivier and Santini | publisher = Milwaukee Admirals | date = November 18, 2019 | accessdate = November 18, 2019}} He made his NHL debut, appearing on the fourth-line with the Predators in a 2–1 defeat to the Winnipeg Jets on November 19, 2019.{{cite web| url = https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/11/19/sports/hockey/ap-hkn-jets-predators.html | title = Hellybuyck's 38 saves lead Jets past Predators 2-1 | work = New York Times | date = November 19, 2019 | accessdate = November 19, 2019}}

Following his fourth season within the Predators organization, Olivier was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2022 on July 1, 2022.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/cbj-acquire-rw-mathieu-olivier-from-nashville-in-exchange-for-2022-pick/c-334789374 | title = CBJ acquire RW Mathieu Olivier from Nashville in exchange for 2022 pick | publisher = Columbus Blue Jackets | date = July 1, 2022 | accessdate = July 1, 2022}}